doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1938 ITHACA SXS Trap

I have a Ithica 12 ga SXS trap gun. Walt dated it at 1938 for me.It has a single trigger. I shot it for the first time this weekend for Doubles unfortunatly it fires both barrells almost 50% of the time. I have read about Hunter triggers having problems,my question is, would this gun have the Hunter trigger and is there anyway to tell without taking it apart?

Where is the selector? Probably an Ithaca trigger that needs a little tune up. Steve May, Cato, NY owns the Miller trigger co and can do it for you. Also Gunter Pfrommer, Rocky Mt. Virginia. Tell me its sn again and I will see if I have any info on its trigger. Try backing out the to[ tang screw 1/2 turn and test it. Does it double on dry fire?

Walt, 5E serial # 46841 2 barrel set, you told me before there was no notes for that number.I will try the tang screw but Iam not sure how to tell if it dry fires both.

I'm having some occasional doubling on my Ithaca (Miller copy) trigger. Dan May said he would be glad to look it over and was confident that he could fix it. Dan is a member here and his site can be found by googling Miller Trigger.

As for seeing if it doubles when dry firing, you can tell by the selective ejectors if so equipped. But frankly, most doubling is induced by the recoil of the first barrel IMO.

49north
I need another number in the serial number. Needs to be 6 numbers. I have Knick's single trigger installation book and can look there.

49NORTH
Here is what a typical NID selector looks like.

That is a Miller, right, Walt? Do the late Ithaca triggers have the Miller type selector stamps also?

Bill, It may be a Miller installed OR an Ithaca installed SST. This is a first year NID and Ithaca sent guns to Miller for his trigger. Later Lou and Howard had a dispute and Ithaca came out with their own SST trigger. Howard Miller accused Lou Smith of his stealing the design and the fight was on. Lou said in a letter to Howard that he was willing to settle it with fists or in court. I don't think either happened but Howard's boys resented IGCo when I talked to them in the late 1980s. Grudges sometimes last a long time, to the grave in this case. Steve May probably knows the design differences, if any, between the two triggers and if we re lucky, he will chime in.

My Ithaca factory trigger has the tang markings as shown above.

Frankly, my thoughts are that this design of safety selection is uncommon enough that its something that worries me when I've lended the gun. Its something that is just similar enough and just different enough that error in use is assured unless very proficient.

On the other hand I find it novel and interesting.

Walt, the selector is the same as the one in the picture,I am at work at the moment and will get the proper SN to you later.